Baptism,

B) Eckbeck campground to Lake Superior (4 miles)

Illgin Falls

Illgin Falls
Photo of Cliff Langley by Ryan Zimny

River Description

From the Forest Service campground, easy boulder garden paddling leads about a quarter mile to a small canyon with a fine III+ drop, leading to a good recovery pool. Easy paddling for the next mile and a half leads to the next significant drop. Increased gradient leads to a large boulder (just right of center) which can be run to either side.

A brief paddle brings one to an irregular short ledge, followed by boiling 'funny water', as the river is immediately diverted ninety-degrees to the left.

Be prepared to take out a short distance downstream, as a horizon line looms, and the thundering of Illgen Falls is heard. Small diagonal ledges lead in to this 35' vertical drop, which has been run routinely since the 70's. A narrow 'goat-trail' portage for the less adventurous (?) clings tenuously to the river left rim, over the boiling cauldron at the base of the falls.

Resume paddling for a short distance, getting out river left above the Superior Hiking Trail footbridge. High Falls, a 50-60' vertical drop, landing almost uniformly shallow, has been survived (with broken bones) by a hiker who was swept over it. Boaters will follow the trail to a boardwalk down to the river below the falls.

The next significant drop, Two Step, consists of a 12' ledge (boof river left), followed by a short recovery area, then a second ledge. Center river drops more gradually, across irregular bedrock, and into a particularly sticky hole. The usual route is tight right, through a couple easy waves, almost brushing the vertical rock wall, as one drops blindly into the river right eddy below.

Paddle cautiously 1/3 mile downstream, as the river increasingly narrows heading into The Cascades. Take out river left before it's too late, and start bushwhacking your portage around about a half mile of nastiness. (Leave your boat on the 'trail', and take a couple side-trips back to the river to see it squeezed and tortured as it flows through the contorted channel.) Some may choose to put in at the small pool above the last tricky pitch.

A few more III-III+ drops punctuate the remaining run, until the mouth of the river is reached. A boardwalk from the wayside/park provides a (relatively) easy carry back to your vehicles, where the park building restrooms provide a handy (warm) place to change.